Islamabad, Aug. 27:
Fifteen infants were killed after a fire broke out at a hospital in Pakistan, triggering a major emergency response and raising fresh questions over fire safety and emergency preparedness at healthcare facilities.
The blaze reportedly broke out in the hospital’s neonatal facility, where newborn babies were receiving treatment. The infants were unable to escape as the fire and smoke spread through the facility.
Emergency teams rushed to the hospital after the incident was reported and began rescue and evacuation operations. The authorities have launched an investigation to establish the exact cause of the fire and determine whether any safety violations contributed to the deaths.
The tragedy has caused shock and grief among the families of the newborns and highlighted the particular vulnerability of infants in intensive-care and neonatal units.
Unlike patients in other hospital wards, critically ill newborns require specialised equipment and constant medical supervision, making rapid evacuation extremely difficult during emergencies.
Officials are expected to examine the hospital’s electrical systems, fire alarms, extinguishing equipment, emergency exits and evacuation procedures as part of the investigation.
The incident has also renewed concerns about safety standards in hospitals, particularly the preparedness of facilities to deal with fires in high-risk areas such as intensive-care and neonatal wards.
Authorities have assured that those responsible for any negligence will face action if violations are established.
The deaths of the 15 infants have cast a pall over the hospital and prompted demands for a comprehensive review of fire-safety arrangements in healthcare facilities across Pakistan.